FLORENCE — In nearly every football game, there is the game within the game — sometimes it’s chicken, sometimes it’s chess, sometimes it’s Risk.

When Florence travels to Point Pleasant Beach on Friday night in the opening round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I playoffs, the Flashes will use a spin-off of the childhood game “Where’s Waldo?”

In the Florence version, junior Marcus Lawless will be Waldo, and he will be mixed among the masses. Point Beach will have to find him — and that won’t be easy, since he plays tailback, split end, inside or outside linebacker and punter.

“When he transferred in from Moorestown, he was an unknown,” said longtime Florence head coach Joe Frappolli. “We saw he had some athleticism, but you could also see he hadn’t played a whole lot.”

So last season, on a veteran team that eventually won the Central Jersey Group I championship, Lawless was a role-playing wide receiver and defensive back. And this season started much the same way. He proved himself as a ladder-climbing, pass-catching threat on opening night against New Egypt, but with the run-first Flashes, his receiving opportunities would be limited.

In Week 6, starting running backs Jazz Best and Kenyari Moore were both out with injuries. Lawless to the rescue ... again. He rushed for 201 yards in his debut at running back.

The Florence staff also used him to kick PATs and kickoffs in emergency situations.

“Basically what we did was held tryouts whenever we were looking to fill a hole,” Frappolli said. “We had him at safety, but there’s no sense having him back there if you can’t stop the run at the line of scrimmage.

“He got a shot at running back because when he ran scout team, we had a hard time bringing him down. He carried the ball with two arms wrapped around it on every play.”

These days, Lawless is the chess piece.

“I’m everywhere,” Lawless said. “Sometimes it’s confusing. Sometimes at running back, I’m supposed to block the linebacker, but I always seem to end up with the safety.”

It’s a mistake Frappolli and the Flashes seem willing to live with.

“At receiver, I just throw it up there and he makes me look good,” said Florence quarterback Mike Muchowski. “He’s a pretty good running back, too. He doesn’t make a lot of moves; he mostly goes forward.”

And usually moves the pile.

“I’m more of a power runner,” Lawless said. “To be honest, I like the contact.”

Even with limited carries, Lawless boasts a team-best 9.7 yards-per-rush average. He has 387 yards on 40 carries with four rushing TDs.

As a receiver, Lawless played with power forward mentality — he has 19 catches for 297 yards, three touchdowns and a 15.6 yards-per-catch average.

As a linebacker, he has 88 totals tackles — 25 of those first-hits, eight for loss, with two sacks and an interception.

Yet his least glamorous role, but most important, is as the punter, where he averages 34.5 yard per kick.

“I can’t tell you how many times he has changed field position for us with one of his punts,” Muchowski said.

“You hear in the NFL how a punter outkicks the coverage,” Frappolli said. “I didn’t think it was possible at the high school level, but Marcus does it.”

As Maple Shade, Bordentown and Burlington City did, Point Beach will be asking, ‘Where’s Marcus?’ on every play.

“There are games where we haven’t fed him the ball enough,” Frappolli said. “I watched the tape of the game against Burlington City, and I was thinking, ‘Shame on us,’ for not giving it to him more.

“But how can you? He runs the ball or pass routes every down on offense. He chases quarterbacks and running backs on defense. Sometimes, you have to be careful how much you ask from a player.”

But this week, with Florence beginning its title defense, look for the coaching staff to push the Lawless envelope.

“I expect it to be the same kind of game as last year,” Lawless said. “I hope it’s a close game. I don’t like blowouts.”

Last season, in the opening round, Florence outlasted Point Beach 17-14.

“They are very productive and efficient,” Frappolli said. “We need to play to the strength of our players.”

Quick facts: Talk about an up-and-down season, Florence has outscored opponents 175-60 in wins and been outscored 100-15 in losses. ... Florence has qualified for the state playoffs 23 times and appeared in 13 title games with six championships. The Flashes are 28-17 (.622) all-time in the playoffs. ... Florence opponents are 33-33. Point Beach opponents are 23-39. ... The Gulls have been in the playoffs 10 times, reaching one final, with zero sectional titles. Point Beach is 3-10 in the playoffs all-time.

Outlook: Both Point Beach and Florence are Wing-T-based offenses, although Beach has gone a little more spread than last season. Expect a close-to-the-vest, physical game with turnovers and the kicking game playing big roles, just as in last year’s opening-round game won by Florence, 17-14. With Fioretti at quarterback, Point Beach can move the ball through the air and will show some option. Focus has been a Florence shortcoming all season. Last week, in the loss to Burlington City, the Flashes scored early, expected a cakewalk, and lost. Florence needs long, penalty-free drives on offense and to play assignment football on defense.

Quick facts: Burlington City, under former Delran High School and Penn State quarterback Tony Sacca, is in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. ... Burlington City is making its 11th playoff appearance with an all-time record in the sectionals of 4-10. The Blue Devils do have one state title ... Burlington’s City’s opponents are a combined 25-42. ... South Hunterdon was a 17-14 loser to Asbury Park in last season’s opening round. ... The Eagles have qualified for the playoffs 10 times with an all-time record of 5-8. South Hunterdon does have two sectional titles. ... Burlington City has won three of its last four and averaged 38 points per game in the victories.

Outlook: Has the potential to be a high-scoring, small-school track meet. The two teams have combined to score more than four points six times this season. Florence head coach Joe Frappolli said BC quarterback Ryan Daniels is masterful with play fakes and caused considerable defensive confusion. ... South Hunterdon’s Devon Troutman is at the helm of the Eagles’ veer and can play hide-and-seek with the football as well. South Hunterdon needs to win the battle up front, establish Jake Whitaker and Toby Coleman between the tackles, keep the ball away from Daniels and then take a chance deep on play-action. South Hunterdon needs to play disciplined defense and not allow the athletic Daniels to flee the pocket with open space in front of him.